Roller support



W. K. LIGGETT ROLL April 10, 192:3.

ER SUPPORT Original Filed March 15, 1922 Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED" STATE-S rerun-r oFFi cE.

WILLIAM K. LIGGETT, F ooLoiviis ns; onto, Assisi-Non To samur i-Nome-- TUBING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO; A GORPORATI'ONOF 011101 ROLLER SUPPORT;

Ori inal application file'd Marc1r15, 1922, Serial No.

1923. Serial The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in roller supports, and particularly devices adapted to support the idler pulleys or rollers upon which the material carrying element of a belt conveyor travels. I I

The especial object of this invention 18 to provide improved supporting devices of the class described which shallbe cheap and simple to manufacture, efficient and durable in operation, andconvenient of replacement and repair. I II I, I I

These and other objects are fully'set forth in the following specification and-illustrated in the accompanying drawings of whi ch'- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation ofthe foot end of: aconveyer;equipped witlrthe devices'of my invention, showing the method of supporting the foot idler pulley. I

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken along the line I1Ilof Fig. 1. y I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the devicesillustratedin Fig. 1 taken along the line TIL-III ofFig. 2. I

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary side elevation of another portion of the conveyerillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, showing an adaptation of the devicesof this invention=to the support of thebelt carrying rollers. I II I Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along the liire-V-V of Fig, L

Like numerals refer to similar parts in the several figures. I

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 5l 3,98 l. filed March 15, 1922, of which this application is a division under official re-' enriremcnt, there is disclosed a portable conveyer having at itsfoot end an idler pulley, and its supporting parts, which en'ibo dy this present invention, these parts being. particularly' illustrated in Figszl, and 12 of that application. I

In the drawings of the present application the numeral 1 refers to the side plates which form a part of the main frame of the conveyer at its forward end. Each of the plates 1 is pierced by a circular aperture 2 from which extend, in a direction rearwardly of the conveyer, a slot 3 of a width materially less than the diameter of the aperture 2. A cylindrical shaft 4, of a diameter only slightly less than that of the apertures 2, is adapted to be thrust through said apertures, and notches 5 formed in suitable position upon 543,984; Divided and this application filed June 8, No. 644,170.

the shaft 4 permitsaid shaft to moved rearwardly of the conveyer into the slots 3. The proportions of the parts are such that when the shaft t 1s 1n its extreme rearward position within the slots 3 it will be supportedby the side plates-1 and securely held against. both rotary and longitudinal movement.

'J ournaled upon-the shaft sis an idler pulley 6 around which passes the conveyer belt 7 in such manner that the saidbelt may travel from the lower forwardly moving strand of theconveyer to-its rearward-1y movingmaterial carrying upper strand with a mini- I mum offrictional resistance. Asthe tension of the belt 7 tends to move the shaft 4 rearwardly of the conveyer frame,-the parts are securely held" in place during operation of the conveyer. When replacement or repair of these parts is desired the tension of the belt 7 may be slackened, the shaft 4 movedforwardly into the apertures 2, and then withdrawn longitudinally from the pulley and from the conveyer frame. Suitable devices are provided upon-the conveyer for ad justment of the tension-of the belt 7, but as such devices are Wellundrstoodin the art, and as they form no part in the present iii-- vention, their description and illustration is not thought to be required at this time. I

Ducts 8, extending longitudinally of the shaft 1- at each end, and having outlets 9' positioned centrally of 'the journal bearings 10 of the pulley G afford means for the introduction of lubricants to said bearings. Any preferred,meansmay be employed for the introduction of lubricants through these ducts. For purposes of illustration 1 have here shown grease cupsll of the force food type arranged in convenient positionoutside of the frame ofthe conveyer and connected with said. ducts by suitable tubing 12. II

The upper or carryingstrand of the conveyer belt 7 is preferably supported upon spaced apart rollers 13-Which may be attached to the conveyer frame in any preferred manner. In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown an adaptation of the devices of this invention to the support of these belt carrying rollers. As here illustrate-d side plates 14 are attached to the conveyer frames, and these are provided with circular apertures 15 having downwardly extending slots 16. A shaft 17 adapted to support the rollers 13 is V forth.

provided with notches 18 suitably spaced to engage the slots 16 of the side plates 14 and the weight of the parts tends to hold the shaft 17 in operative position in the slots 16 so that it will be securely held against either rotary or longitudinal movement. When replacement or repair of these parts is desirable it is only necessary to lift the shaft 17 with its accompanying parts upwardly into the apertures after which said shaftmay be longitudinally withdrawn from the roller 13 and the conveyer frame.

- lVhatI claim is 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with side plates each having a circular aperture, and a slot of awidt'h materially less than the diameter .of said apertures extending therefrom, a cylindrical shaft thediameter of which is only slightly less than the diameter of said apertures whereby said shaft can be moved longitudr nally through saidapertures for removal or insertion, notches in said shaft positioned and arranged to permit lateral movement of said shaft into said slots and to engage the edges thereof to prevent either'longitu dinal or rotary movement of said shaft relative to said plates, a pulley journaled on said shaft, and a belt engaging saidp'ulley, the tension of the belt acting to hold said shaft in said slots as and for the purpose set 2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with side plates each having an :1 aperture and a relatively narrow slot extending from said aperture, a shaft adapted to be thrust longitudinally through said apertures, notches in said shaft adapted to permit its lateral movement into said slots a and to engage the edges thereof to prevent either longitudinal or rotary movement of said shaft relative to said plates, a pulley journaled upon said shaft, and a belt en gaging said pulley, the tension of said belt acting to hold said shaft in said slots as and for the purpose set forth. 3. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with side plates each having a perforation and a relatively narrow slot communicating therewith, a removable shaft of relatively large diameter movable endwise through said perforations and having notches adapted to permit lateral movement'of said shaft into said slots and to engage the edges thereof to prevent longitudinal or rotary movement of said shaft relative to said plates, a pulley journaled the combination with side plates each having a circular aperture, an upwardly inclined slot of a width materially less than the diameter of said apertures extending from each aperture, a shaft the diameter of which is only slightly less than the diameter of said 7 apertures whereby the said shaft can be moved longitudinally through said apertures for removal or insertion, said shaft having notchespositioned and arranged to "permit lateral movement of said shaft into said slots and to engage the edges thereof to prevent either longitudinal or rotary movement of said shaft relative to said plates, a pulley journalled on said shaft, and a belt engaging said .pulleyythe tension of said belt acting to hold said shaft-in said inclined slots as and'for the purpose setfforth.

5 Inav machine of the class described, the

combination with side plates each having a perforation, and a relatively narrowslot extending from said perforation, a shaft adapted to be thrust longitudinally through said perforation, said shaft having polygonal portions adapted to permit its lateral movement into said slots and to engage the edges thereof to prevent rotary movement of said shaft relative to said plate, a pulley 'journailed upon said shaft, and a belt engaging said pulley, the tension of said belt acting to hold said shaft in said slots.

7 6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with side plates'each having a perforation, a threadless shaft adapted to be thrust longitudinally through said per-' forations and having a diameter less than said perforation-s, whereby it can be entirely removed or inserted longitudinally through said perforations, one of said plates having a slot communicating with andgof a width less than the opening in said plate, and one end of said'shaft having a notch adapted topermitmovement of said end of the shaft into said slot and to engage the edges there of to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft relative to said plates. a

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand,

WILLIAM K. LIGGETT. 

